70 percent of firms ask for simplified customs procedures: survey
Up to 70 percent of the 3,000 import-export firms polled nationwide said they want simpler administrative procedures, as reported at a conference in Hanoi on January 8.
Hanoi (VNA) – Up to 70 percent of the 3,000import-export firms polled nationwide said they want simpler administrativeprocedures, as reported at a conference in Hanoi on January 8.
The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) incollaboration with the General Department of Vietnam Customs, and the US Agencyfor International Development conducted the survey to make a 2018 report onbusiness satisfaction concerning administrative procedures for import andexport activities.
According to the report, 56 percent and 53 percent of thesurveyed firms faced difficulties in looking for information about theprocedures and in checking the codes of their submitted documents,respectively.
Some 53 percent of them suggested relevant agencies increasetheir application of IT technologies, while 43 percent asked for boostedcustoms openness and transparency as well as better performances of publicpersonnel. Approximately 30 percent recommended the customs sector improve itsinfrastructure system.
Speaking at the conference, Dau Anh Tuan, head of the VCCI’sLegal Department, said the survey was carried out amid an emerging need ofcustoms reform in line with the Government’s Resolution 19 on improvingbusiness climate and the national competitiveness.
It focused on the categories of information access, customsadministrative procedures, customer services, the national single-windowinformation portal, and unofficial fees, among others.
The survey was conducted as a way to make recommendations torelevant authorities for suitable amendments to legal regulations that couldfacilitate the business community.
Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Customs HoangViet Cuong said the sector has been working to implement a comprehensive reformtoward reinforcing the customs – enterprise partnership and increasing activitiesthat facilitate import and export activities.
The customs authority has held numerous surveys to promptly learnbusinesses’ difficulties and gather their feedback regarding procedures, henoted, adding that the comments have been turned into proposals to relevantState agencies.-VNA
The General Department of Customs has set a target to reduce time spent on customs procedures to less than 10 working days for exports and 12 working days for imports by 2016.
Customs inspection paperwork will be reduced, while procedures and services will be improved to aid firms’ operational activities, experts said at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City this week.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) 
